SANTO DOMINGO – The Santo Domingo Water and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD) announced the commencement of pipe connection and drainage work on a 36-inch line along Gregorio Luperón Avenue. This project, presented as part of the modernization of the drinking water system, once again highlights the vulnerability of this area to flooding caused by rain. The work, which will be
carried out this weekend with the support of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), will involve interconnecting 16-inch and 36-inch pipes that were previously relocated because they interfered with the construction of the underpass near Plaza de la Bandera.
However, residents and regular users of this avenue point out that, historically, these types of interventions have not been accompanied by structural solutions to the deficient stormwater drainage system, which collapses every time there are moderate or heavy rains.
Interruption and trucks
As a result of the work, the drinking water service will be limited from Monday, January 26, until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, affecting more than 30 neighborhoods in the National District and Santo Domingo province, including Los Cacicazgos, Miramar, Costa Caribe, Feria Ganadera, 30 de Mayo, and Dominicanos Ausentes—areas that are also among the most affected by recurring flooding.
The general director of CAASD, engineer Fellito Suberví, reported that a fleet of 40 tanker trucks will be available to supply water to the affected areas, a temporary measure that, while mitigating the service interruption, does not address the underlying concerns regarding urban planning and the resilience of infrastructure to increasingly frequent weather events.
Although CAASD (Santo Domingo Water and Sewerage Corporation) maintains that the connections are necessary to guarantee the system's operational safety and improve the integration of the distribution networks, concerns remain about whether these works are being carried out with a comprehensive vision that considers not only the supply of drinking water but also the efficient management of stormwater, a critical issue in a road corridor that frequently becomes a lake and a source of traffic chaos during rainstorms.
During the day, the 36-inch pipeline on Gregorio Luperón Avenue, from kilometer 9 of the Duarte Highway to Avenida de la Salud, will also be drained using hydrants to empty the pipe and work in dry conditions. Although CAASD did not report on possible collateral impacts, the entire stretch is known for experiencing extraordinary water accumulation during rain events.
While authorities reiterate that service will be restored gradually after the completion of the works, which are expected to be a definitive solution to the floods that, year after year, affect mobility, safety and quality of life in this important urban area.
